May the Lord show you kindness, as you have shown kindness to your dead husbands and to me. (Ruth 1:8)
Kindness just seems natural to some people and because it is their way of life, they do not put much thought into being kind—they just are. Kind people will notice the hungry and care enough to feed them. Kind people will dry a tear, soothe an ache, and brighten another’s heart. Kind people do not do anything expecting a reward, and they often encourage their recipients to “pay it forward.”
When Elimelek, his wife Naomi, and their two sons Mahlon and Kilion left the land of Judah to escape a famine, they ended up in the country of Moab. It was there in that foreign land that their boys found their wives Orpah and Ruth, who grew to love Naomi. The three men died and Naomi found herself widowed and having two young daughters-in-law for whom to care. Knowing the difficulties the two women would face if they followed her, Naomi chose to bless them and send them on their way back to their mothers’ homes. She blessed them and thanked them for their kindness towards her and her late sons.
Though Orpah did go her own way, Ruth would not leave Naomi’s side. The kind love exchanged by them was a tight bond that made them inseparable and encouragers of one another, and ultimately yielded a brand new life for the both of them.
Always opt to be kind. It will bless you.
Luska Natali is a native of Brazil who is passionate about God, her family, learning new languages (she fluently speaks three), and meeting people.
© 2020 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
